Newly elected Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas missed a golden opportunity to set the tone for his tenure in office. The County Board passed a budget with a $2.8 million property tax increase. Vrakas, rather than propose cuts that would've knocked it back down to size, managed to only trim $360,000 using his veto power. Grateful county supervisors, who certainly could've expected more drastic cuts given the Vrakas/Dwyer race, quickly voted to leave the vetos intact. The budget was passed, and the average taxpayer in Waukesha saved a whole $2.00, shelling out $10 more than last year.
It could be worse. Had Dwyer been County Executive, it's doubtful any veto would have been cast. After all, it was his budget that passed that he trumpeted during the campaign.
But, "it could be worse" isn't good enough after the raised expectations of the County Executive race, and the clear mandate the voters sent when they overwhelmingly voted for Vrakas. Vrakas has now spent the political capital of his landslide victory and has little to show for it. Next year the County Board may not be so compliant.
